Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. c20.s8.t6.3

c20.s8.t6.3

Ezhuttukallu (literally, 'inscribed stone') is a large boulder of gneiss rock jutting out from the bed of the Cherupuzha river deep inside the Nilambur forest in Malappuram District, Kerala. A two-line inscription engraved deeply in bold characters on this boulder is partly submerged under water and is fully visible only in extreme dry weather.⁵ The inscription was copied in 1958-59 by the Government Epigraphist. The Report noted that the inscription was partly submerged, described it as in "archaic Southern characters" and made an unsuccessful attempt to decipher it.⁶ Narayanan published his reading and interpretation of the inscription in 1972.⁷